Box



M. R. SHOFER Dec. 5, 1933.

BOX

Filed Jan. 14, 1932 nllllllllll'lilll l k- Patented Dec. 5, 1933 BOX Marc R. Shofer, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor of one-half to Iowa Fiber Box Company, Keokuk, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware, and one-half to South West Box Company, Sand Springs, Okla., a corporation of Delaware Application January 14, 1932. Serial No. 586,630

1 Claim.

This invention relates to boxes, especially to those made of fiber board and the like and among other objects, aims to provide an improved box so constructed as to withstand rough handling without serious damage to itself or its contents, and

' which is also treated to make certain surfaces sanitary, water-proof and pleasing in appearance.

In the accompanying drawing showing the preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved box with the lid open;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank from which the box is made;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view on a smaller scale showing the box in closed position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a greatly enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring particularly to the drawing, the im proved box is there shown as being formed preferably from a single piece of fiber board or the like which is first cut and scored, so that, if desired, it may be shipped flat, and later is bent into box formation. The blank shown in Fig. 2

' is cut out to the proper contour and incised gether by fastening means 21.

on lines 11 and scored as indicated by dotted lines 12 to provide a bottom 13, front and rear walls 14 and 15, end walls 16, and laps 17, top or lid 18 and front and end flaps l9 and 20.

When setting up the box, the walls 14 and 15 and end walls 16 are bent upwardly at right angles to the bottom and the end flaps 17 are then bent inwardly at right angles to the walls 14 and 15. The end flaps 17 are secured to- The fiaps l9 and may then be bent inwardly at right angles to the top 18 and the lid then folded down to close the box, the scored line between the top and the wall 15 acting as a hinge.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be noted that when the box is set up, the connected end flaps 17 and also front wall 14 are arched outwardly to provide a resiliency which will protect the box from injury. It will be seen that if either the front wall or the ends of the box are struck a blow during handling they will give Without breaking, whereas if they were straight the fiber board would probably break. Thus the contents of the box may be protected against injury and possible contamination by dirt, which would sift in through any hole knocked in the fiber board. The flaps 20 are inserted in the spaces between the end laps 17 and the ends 16, as shown in Fig. 4, the adjacent corners of the flaps 19 and 20 being cut off to facilitate the closing of the lid.

It will be clear that when the box is closed, end fiaps 20 make the end walls of triple thickness throughout, with quadruple thickness where the flaps 17 overlap each other.

Furthermore, 0

the front cover flap 19 makes the front wall one In order to make the interior of the box sani tary and at the same time give it a pleasing appearance, the inner face of the material is first given a relatively thin coating of sizing material, such as glue 22 (see Fig. 5) which fills the pores. A thicker coating of paraffin 23 is then applied over the sizing. Thus the paraffin does not sink into the pores of the material but stays on top of the glue as a glossy whitish coating. In the ordinary parafiining process, the parafiin is usually applied directly to the fiber board giving it a very dark appearance as the paraffin sinks into the pores. The paraffin coating kills all bacteria and tends to inhibit the growth of bacteria, and contributes to a high degree of cleanliness and sanitation, especially if the box is used as a container for foods. Obviously, when so used, the foods need not be wrapped in expensive waxed paper, as the box is sealed before shipping by means of flexible tape or metal strapping (not shown).

From the above description it will be seen that an improved box has been provided which is not only strong and durable but sanitary and pleasing in appearance, because of the gloss of the whitish parafiin coating. While it can be used 5 for many purposes, it is especially desirable as a container for crackers, fruit, hard candies, etc. The described box is also well adapted for perishable foods, such as meats and vegetables, which must be refrigerated: the paraffin skin which: is applied to the box preventing the fibre board from getting soggy when the box is placed into damp refrigerated rooms or ice boxes, also when it is taken from a dry, cold refrigerated room and exposed to warm, humid air, which would: cause sweat or dew to form on the outer surface of the box. Particularly if the box is to be exposed to refrigeration, it will be desirable to coat all the inside and outside surfaces with p afi i accordance with the described process. 2.

being substantially vertical and plane; end flaps integral with and bent inwardly from the front and rear walls and secured together, said end flaps when secured together being arched outwardly and outside of the end walls; said front wall being arched outwardly; a top integral with therear wall; and marginal top end and front flaps integral with the top, said end flaps being insertible between the plane end walls and the outwardly arched end flaps.

MARC R. SHOFER. 

